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Chemical inhibition of Plaque
Author(s) -
Hull P. S.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1980.tb02150.x
Subject(s) - chlorhexidine , dental plaque , biguanide , enzyme , chemical agents , antibiotics , medicine , antimicrobial , dentistry , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , metformin , biochemical engineering , engineering
. Attempts to control plaque by chemical means using enzymes, antibiotics and antiseptics are reviewed. Enzymes such as mucinase, dehydrated pancreas, enzymes at fungal origin, dextranase and mutanase showed limited clinical success despite promising in vitro and animal studies. Side effects from the use of enzymes were observed. Many antibiotics have been used in attempts to control plaque and several have been successful. However, problems exist from the long‐term use of such drugs which precludes their routine use as agents for controlling plaque. The biguanide chlorhexidine is the most widely used and investigated method of chemical plaque control. Many studies have demonstrated that it will successfully control plaque. No toxic side effects have been reported from its long‐term use but local side effects such as staining of the teeth do occur. The quaternary ammonium compounds have at present no advantages over the biguanides and require more frequent usage to achieve the same degree of plaque control as chlorhexidine.